Load Case Manager (`load-case-manager`)

Check	IND	US	EU	ISO
Envelope stress utilization	implemented	—	—	—

Purpose

Orchestrate multiple structural load cases and compute envelope results (maximum/minimum stress, deflection, and utilization) across cases. Enables design-by-envelope workflows where the governing load combination is identified without re-running individual module calculations manually.

Physics & theory

Structural design requires evaluating several load scenarios — dead, live, wind, seismic, thermal, and operational loads — each factored per the governing code. Rather than solving a single load vector, envelope analysis tracks the extremum of each response quantity across all defined cases: $R_{env} = max_{i} ∣ R_{i} ∣$ or signed envelopes for asymmetric checks.

Linear elastic structures satisfy superposition:

r es p o n ses f r o min d e p e n d e n tl o a d c a ses a dd w h e n co mbin e d . T h e l o a d c a se mana g er s t or es p er - c a se in p u t s an d r es u l t s, a ppl i es l o a df a c t or s f r o m d es i g n co d e p r ese t s, an d a g g r e g a t es u t i l i z a t i o n s f or p a ss / f ai l scr ee nin g . N o n l in e a r or p a t h - d e p e n d e n t c a ses (pl a s t i c i t y, co n t a c t) a r eo u t s i d esco p e

Each stored case preserves the originating module inputs and factored results. Envelope utilizations identify the governing case for each check without re-solving the underlying structural model.

Load factors follow design-code presets (Indicative, US, EU, ISO); users must confirm factor sets match the project load combination requirements.

Governing equations

R_{env} = i = 1 max n ∣ R_{i} ∣

U_{env} = i max \frac{σ _{i}}{σ _{allow, i}}

R_{combined} = j \sum γ_{j} R_{j} (linear combination)

Numerical method

Orchestration layer over module solvers: each load case invokes the underlying structural engine (beams, frames, etc.) or stores imported results. Envelope logic scans result arrays and metric summaries to extract governing values. No independent FEM — numerical depth is in aggregation and comparison logic.

Inputs

Parameter	Description
Load cases	Named sets of loads with factors
Source module	Beam, frame, or imported results
Combination rules	Max envelope, sum, or code-specific
Allowable limits	Stress, deflection thresholds

Outputs

Envelope stress utilization, governing load case ID, per-case utilizations, max/min deflection envelopes, summary table for export.

Design codes & checks

Indicative: Envelope stress utilization
US/EU: Load combination factors per AISC/ASCE 7 or EN 1990 (user responsibility)

Assumptions & limitations

Linear elastic superposition unless cases explicitly marked nonlinear.
User responsible for correct load factors and combination rules per code.
Does not perform load pattern optimization or automatic code combination generation.
Envelope of nonlinear results may be non-conservative.

References

ASCE/SEI 7-22. Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings.
EN 1990:2002. Eurocode — Basis of structural design.
AISC. Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 360-22), Chapter B.
ISO 8686:1989. Cranes — Design principles for loads and load combinations.
PhyCalcPro verification benchmarks in src/data/verification/ where available for this module.
Beer, F. P., et al. Mechanics of Materials, 8th ed. McGraw-Hill — foundational stress and deformation theory.

Load Case Manager

Assumptions

Limitations

Engineering checks